Book Review: "Every Hand Revealed" by Gus Hansen
When Gus Hansen's Every Hand Revealed was published in 2008, it sparked a true frenzy of excitement in the poker community. This extraordinary poker book delves into the tournament journey of the professional player, detailing his sensational victory at the Aussie Millions Championship 2007 in Melbourne: From the very first hand to the final table and the ultimate triumph over Jimmy Fricke! The book offers a captivating insight into tournament play and the thoughts of one of today's most renowned high stakes players. Anyone contemplating participating in a major tournament can prepare themselves by reading this book.
Gus Hansen…the man!
Gus Hansen rose to fame in a remarkably short span of time by winning two televised World Poker Tour tournaments. His fearless playing style earned him millions of dedicated fans worldwide. Hansen went on to claim a third WPT title and a coveted WSOP bracelet in 2010. Like many other poker pros, Hansen possessed exceptional skills outside the realm of poker, having been a junior tennis champion. However, Hansen's origins lie in backgammon, where he ranked among the world's finest players and was renowned as one of the most formidable cash game participants.
Gus Hansen's ability to secure a position, control his opponents, and determine probabilities seamlessly transferred to the realm of poker, thus it came as no surprise that he rapidly achieved remarkable success in the game. He competed against the world's best players both live and online, amassing millions in prize money. Gus Hansen appears to possess absolutely no fear when it comes to risking money, openly discussing the multimillion-dollar losses he incurred in the renowned "Big Game" at Bobby's Room in Las Vegas.
A Comprehensive Review: Insights into Every Hand Unveiled
This book provides an insider's view of the challenging journey undertaken by Gus Hansen during a major poker tournament, ultimately leading him to claim the 2007 Aussie Millions title. It offers a unique perspective that has never been explored before, making it one of the most captivating books ever published by a professional poker player. While not as focused on poker theory as David Sklansky's Tournament Poker, it still offers valuable lessons for players aspiring to compete in high-stakes tournaments.
Hansen himself took on the task of analyzing each individual hand, and it is very easy to follow along with them. All the crucial hands are directly from the tournament, and to top it off, the final hand is even Pocket Aces, which couldn't have been more fitting. Winning a major event is always a great achievement, but winning a poker tournament and leaving 746 players behind in just five days, all while gathering notes for a poker book, is truly something special. To contribute to the book's atmosphere, the foreword was written by poker legend David "Chip" Reese shortly before his passing.
Hansen reflects on his thoughts for the day, his plans, and the analysis of bubble plays. Using his personal experience as an example, he explains how one should behave in different phases of the tournament, which is highly educational for almost every reader. This single book encompasses most of what one needs to know for a major poker tournament.
Final remarks
Like any other book, Every Hand Revealed also has its weaknesses. For instance, it fails to instruct on playing in a high-speed structured online poker tournament. Hansen's greatest strength lies in his ability to adapt to the creative style of play allowed by the large stacks in the Aussie Millions. On the other hand, what proves highly enlightening for both live and online poker players is how the book depicts the mental processes of a professional player in various situations and how the analytical level of a game like backgammon can be applied to poker. It offers valuable insights on transferring skills and strategies from one game to another.
Becoming a world-class player in two completely different games is an immense challenge. However, Gus Hansen not only achieved this feat but excelled in both games. In summary, this book has the potential to become a classic over time and be mentioned in the same breath as Super System and The Theory of Poker. It is a testament to Hansen's exceptional skills and expertise in the world of gaming.
